Paint brush cleaning apparatus



1*- 1968 E. w. STOTT PAINT BRUSH CLEANING APPARATUS Filed May 26, 1967 IN VEN TOR.

g S M T M M United States Patent 3,399,463 PAINT BRUSH CLEANING APPARATUS Everett W. Stott, 6903 94B Ave., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Filed May 26, 1967, Ser. No. 641,561 Claims. (Cl. 34-58) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An assembly for holding a paint brush while it is rotated and cleaned by centrifugal force. The assembly consists of a relatively rigid outer casing housing a flexible inner casing provided with gripping ridges for engagement with the handle of a paint brush. A shaft is secured to the assembly for attachment to a power tool for rotating it.

This invention relates to an aid for use in cleaning a paint brush, and more particularly, to a device for holding a paint brush while it is rotated by a power tool to clean it by centrifugal force.

The usual manner of cleaning a paint brush is to soak it in a solvent to dissolve the excess paint retained by the brush bristles. This is a time consuming and sloppy chore, necessitating the use of another brush when it is desired to paint a different color immediately.

It has been discovered that the disadvantages inherent in this cleaning method can be obviated by rotating the brush at high speeds, thereby freeing the brush bristles of excess paint in a matter of minutes by centrifugal force. Heretofore, attachments for connecting the paint brush to a rotating power tool for this purpose have been expensive and dangerous to use, presenting a myriad of elements having sharp corners.

- Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a holder for a paint brush of the character indicated, consisting of a minimum number of parts having no rough edges lending itself to economical mass production, and safety in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a holder of the character indicated which can universally hold different size paint brushes for cleaning.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the paint brush holder of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view in elevation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 44 in FIG- URE 2, and illustrating in phantom lines the manner in which a paint brush is retained therein and connected to a rotary power tool; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of the paint brush holder.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the paint brush holder of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10.

As illustrated, paint brush holder com-prises three elements; an outer casing 12, an inner casing 14, and a shaft 16 for connecting holder 10 to a conventional rotating power tool 18 (shown in phantom lines in FIG- URE 4).

The outer casing 12 is made from a hard sturdy substance, such as metal or plastic, and includes a cylindrical bottom portion 20 integrally connected to a frusto-conical portion 22. At the top end of portion 22, the wall of casing 12 is thickened, as shown at 24, to increase its strength and prevent vibration and cracking when rotated "ice by power tool 18. The outer surface of casing 12 is smooth to the touch so that it may be readily handled without injury to the hand.

The top of frusto-conical portion 22 of outer casing 12 is solid, as shown at 26, and has an axial bore 28 formed therethrough for a purpose described hereinafter.

Inner casing 14 is constructed of flexible material, such as rubber, and has a main body portion 30, substantially of frusto-conical shape, terminated in a flared end 40. Main body portion 30 is adapted to receive and be distended by the handle H of a paint brush B, and to frictionally grip it. The handle H is inserted within main body portion 30 through an opening 32 in the bottom surface of flared end 40.

Adjacent opening 32, the flared end 40 of inner casing 14 is provided with a series of integral, vertically spaced, annular ribs 34, 36 which aid in frictionally gripping handle H, when inserted through opening 32. An integral, annular lip 38 connected to the flared end 40 completes the construction of the inner casing 14.

The outer casing 12 is secured to the inner casing 14 by sliding the outer casing 12 over the main body portion 30 of the inner casing 14, and wedging the lower end of casing 12 between annular lip 38 and the flared end 40 of main body portion 30. Shaft 16 having a square end 42 and a cylindrical stem 44 is then inserted into the interior of inner casing 14 through opening 32. Stem 44 is placed through axial bore 28 in the top of casing 12 and the square end 42 of shaft 16 frictionally clamps the top of the main body portion 30 of inner casing 14 to the outer casing.

Stern 44 can then be connected to rotating power tool 18 and handle H of brush B inserted within the interior of main body portion 30. The power tool can then be activated to rotate the brush B to remove excess paint therefrom by centifugal force.

Because the shaft end 42 is square-shaped in crosssection, it will not rotate relative to inner casing 14 or cause the casing to twist. Also, since main body portion '30 is distensible, as is the material of casing 14 surrounding opening 32, a variety of different size brushes B can be held by holder 10.

While a specific embodiment of my invention has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Paint brush cleaning apparatus comprising an elongated tubular outer casing, an elongated tubular inner casing disposed within said outer casing and havin an opening at the lower end thereof to receive the handle of a paint brush, said inner casing being formed of flexible distensible material, and means projecting from the top end of said outer casing for connecting said casing to a rotating power tool.

2. Paint brush cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including flexible means within the interior of said inner casing adjacent said opening for frictionally gripping the handle of a paint brush.

3. Paint brush cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said friction gripping means includes at least one integral annular rib projecting radially inwar-dly from the interior wall of said inner casing adjacent said opening therein.

4. Paint brush cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said inner casing includes an integral exterior, annular lip at the lower end thereof, the lower end of said outer casing being received between said 3 .7 annular lip and said inner casing, and said projection I References Cited means comprising a shaft projecting from the top end of said outer casing and having a square-shaped end in UNITED STATES PATENTS cross-section, the square end of said shaft bein disposed 2 449,313 9 1943 Olsen 134 1 9 m within the interior of the inner casing and frictionally 5 2,931, 1 4/19 0 H i 279 10 clamping the top end of said inner casing to the interior I Ofsaid Outer casing- FREDERICK L. MATTESON, 111., Primary Examiner.

5. Paint brush cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein he Walls of said outer casing adjacent HERRMANN, Assistant Examine!- the top end thereof are thickened. 

